I received my first pair of
Adidas Ultra Boost. Ultra Boost is the pioneer of maximalist shoes, and I, on the other hand, am an avid minimalist shoe enthusiast.
Still, I was amazed at how light and colorful they were.I took my Adidas Ultra Boost seriously and decided to fly to Kauai, Hawaii for some trail testing.
The challenge thrown to them was a big as the shoes themselves: Kalalau trail, one of the world’s 20 most dangerous trails as per Outdoor Magazine. If you survive (most people do) the 11 miles trail with many stream crossings and the infamous crawlers ledge you are rewarded with one of the most spectacular beaches in Hawaii. Oh, and you have to carry all of your gear, because there is nothing along the way, not even drinking water or cellular signal. You will definitely meet some mountain goats on the way – a sign that the Speedgoat is in its element.
The good news is that the shoe was comfortable over the 22+ miles that were required to get to Kalalau beach and back (some getting lost was also involved). The
Adidas Ultra Boost shoes are a lot lighter than you’d expect from its size weighing in at 294 grams for a size 8.5. I had been advised by a company representative to take a half a point shorter than usual and, in hindsight, I’m unsure about it. I have big toes and they like some wiggle room. The Speedgoat doesn’t have the biggest toe box, and potentially I could have used the extra space. Still, it was livable and I didn’t suffer from any blisters!
The not so good news is that the shoes are now covered with Kauai notorious red dirt or perhaps red mud. The exact same mud that had the tendency to get stuck in the Vibram soles making them inefficient at times where slipping was not an option. The soles are otherwise very confident building on dry surfaces and stiff enough for some rock hoping. On a different note, the height of the shoe was tricky on uneven surfaces and on occasion placed undue stress on the ankles. Besides, it can take a few miles to get used to this kind of shoe; it can impact cadence and ground contact. I found that I needed to make sure to keep the feet turning quickly as the additional cushioning made my feet somewhat lazy.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed
the Adidas Ultra Boost. I would take another pair anytime because they look so good! Now that my initial skepticism is gone, the Speedgoat might very well be my companion for long trail runs where the terrain doesn’t get too technical or wet.
